3rd Kill ~ Console/Video

[irishthor]

[Action; Early morning - Locked to Katara.]

[His dreams are wracked by memories. Of cold ice, of forests... Of bonds broken and forged. To those looking in, he would be moving, sleeping restless, sweat beaded on his brow, and the occasional noise slipping past his lips...

That is until he jolts up, hand grasping for a weapon that isn't there, eyes wild, before he realises where he is, and relaxes a tad.]

Christ... [This is mumbled, a hand raised to scrub over his face, feeling the roughness of the unshaven stubble under his fingers. He hasn't really shaved or tended to himself these past days; wasn't much of a point.] ...I have to stop nearly dying...

[Private audio to Skulduggery Pleasant.]

You said to inform you if I learnt something regarding these muggings...

[Open]

[Shay Cormac has seen better days. He still looks pale, and sweat is still visible on his brow, but he's looking a lot healthier than people have seen him before today. His hair is still down, and he's wearing local garb, but... at least he looks better.]

So, what do you do when your soul gem changes colour?

[He pulls out a red gem on a pendant, dangling it before the camera.]

Because this was green before- [And he stops, blinking, staring off, and then around his surroundings. From the feed, people can see that he's in the hotel lobby, but Shay is acting like he's seeing something else... and then his attention returns to the console. He clears his throat, looking a tad abashed.]

Er... My apologies. I thought I... [A glance over his shoulder.] Never mind. Any information on what this means, I would appreciate it.

[And the feed gets cut.]

[Private to Deon Wilson]

I owe you a debt, my friend.

[Private to Arno Dorian]

As much as I never thought I'd say these words to an Assassin again, I owe you my life. Thank you.

Comments

private audio;

[skeletonenigma]

Were you mugged?

[Really, it doesn't take a genius. Skulduggery's voice is level, but he does feel a certain amount of relief when he receives the message; finally, something nice and simple to focus on. A clear mystery. A lead.]

Re: private audio;

[irishthor]

Aye. I was. Very nearly lost my life.

[skeletonenigma]

Did you manage to find your soul gem?

[And, a minute later:]

Ah, never mind. I've just seen your broadcast. What did you learn?

[irishthor]

Not too much, unfortunately. They didn't say much, even when I managed to retaliate back.

[He toys with the idea of keeping the assassin part secret, but... If it helps bring these bastards to justice- or the blade -he's all for it.]

They moved similar to assassins, stealthy, quick. They caught up to me pretty quickly, and I'm not exactly slow. They knew who they were going fer... I couldn't get away, but they only brought me down with a bell. Three rings and I was out.

[skeletonenigma]

[People trained to take out their targets as quickly as possible. Skulduggery's starting to see a pattern here. The bell part, though - that, he has to admit, has him completely confused.]

A magical bell?

[Well, not too far beyond the realm of the possible.]

Out meaning unconscious, or paralysed?

[video]

[theideaguy]

Panic.

I think I'd panic.

[Yeah, perhaps a little overdramatic. Or maybe just sarcastic.]

[video]

[irishthor]

Without it, I'd be dead right now. I don't think I'll be panicking too much.

[video]

[theideaguy]

[Oh, you wanted a serious answer? Well.]

Well, I'd personally say that my soul gem... also green, hasn't exactly decided to go rainbow on me and change colours.

Then again, it's not like I've had this thing for more than a few months, so who knows what weird things happen to these things?

[video]

[irishthor]

Try only two months, mate. And I... I recently had this thing taken from me.

[So, he's literally almost died without it.]

[video]

[wolfstrike]

Are we talking about all the time or just some of the time?

Mine randomly turns dark sometimes.

[video]

[irishthor]

It hasn't turned back, but it was green when I got it. Peridot gem, if I know anything.

[video]

[wolfstrike]

Sorry, I have no idea what it means. All I know is that when mine turns, I'm on the floor.

[video]

[irishthor]

On the floor? Like you pass out, or just... fall?

[Colour him curious.]

video

[looksfine]

You thought you...what, precisely?

[That momentary look did not go unnoticed, and though Aya was pleased he had located his missing gem, the latest in alterations was...unnerving.]

video

[irishthor]

It's nothing. Don't worry.

[Nothing he wants to discuss over an open connection on a public terminal.]

video

[looksfine]

I have often found that to be an ironic statement, as the implication of such often increases the desire to do so, rather than ameliorate it.

[She would not press, if he was that insistent about remaining secretive over an unsecured connection--Aya was well aware of how important remaining confidential could be to many--but she would be certain to express the fact that she was, indeed, concerned for him.]

video

[irishthor]

No, I thought I saw something... I'm guessing the mind plays tricks when it's nearly perished.

[Well, thinking he saw something... Definitely seeing something.]

video; private

[craftlife]

Seriously, don't mention it. I'm just glad you're all right.

video; private

[irishthor]

I'm getting there, but I'm not dead. And it's thanks to you.

video; private

[craftlife]

Well, you found my badge for me. We can call it even?

[Dummy.]

video; private

[irishthor]

Unless your life was tied to that thing, I think not.

[He's not going to press it too much, but... yeah. Shay owes him.]

[oceanblue]

[Katara is nearby as he tosses and writhes in his sleep, and she's on her way to his side again just before he jolts up. Startled, but not at all deterred, she takes a step or two back, gauging his reaction before she offers a kind smile and reaches for the cool towel at his bedside.]

It's not a bad idea... [she agrees, offering him the towel to wipe his forehead himself if he so chooses.] How are you feeling?

[irishthor]

[Shay's gaze falls on Katara as she moves closer, a slightly suspicious gaze for a moment, before he realises that she, obviously, doesn't mean harm. A check of his Eagle Vision confirms that.]

Aye... Definitely not. [He takes the towel.] Better. Not dead. That's better.

[oceanblue]

[She nods. Not dead is definitely better than... well, dead.]

Do you remember anything? [Pause.] My name is Katara... Your soul gem was stolen, but they found it, [she explains, nodding her head toward his gem.]. I'm a waterbend--uh...healer.

[irishthor]

[He reaches a hand up, wrapping it around his soul gem. It's the same shape, and he's never been more glad to see the thing.]

A healer... Like Miss Raine? With magic?